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Sigdeflæd sat down and looked at the water...it calmed her down and she loved listening to the sound of the water and she loved breathing in the fresh air that the lake gave! Meanwhile: Sihtric finished eating, brought his plate into the kitchen and then he left the great hall! He wanted to look for Sigdeflæd and he had the small suspicion, that she was down by the lake! And with each step he took, the guilt and sadness grew and he needed to take a deep breath, before he approached his wife...
~~~~~~

Sigdeflæd:(*she turned her head*)"Are you alright, my love?...(*Sihtric sat down besides her*)...you look so sad!"
Sihtric:"I feel guilty that Twyla is now living with Sigtryggr in Eoferwic!...(*Sigdeflæd tilted her head*)...I should never have let her go with him, Sig...this is all my fault!"
Sigdeflæd:(*she shook her head*)"It's not your fault, Sihtric!...(*he lowered his head*)...it was her own decision to go with Sigtryggr! I'm sorry I overreacted earlier and made it seem like it is your fault..."
Sihtric:"I wasn't even angry with you, Sig!...(*he lifted his head*)...you had every right to be angry with me!"
Sigdeflæd:(*she kissed his forehead*)"Does she at least come to visit us?...(*Sihtric nodded*)...oh that's good news!"
Sihtric:"I'm afraid that something will happen to her now that I can't protect her!...(*he sighed*)...I don't trust Sigtryggr..."
Sigdeflæd:(*she rubbed his back*)"Nothing will happen to her, baby! She has Sigtryggr to protect her now, I don't think we have to worry!...(*Sihtric looked at her*)...you just have to learn to trust him! I think you can do that!"

~~~~~~
She stood up and walked back to the great hall! Sihtric looked after her until she was fully gone and then he looked back at the water! It was calm...but he wasn't! Inside him was chaos and he was afraid! Afraid, that his daughter had fallen for a lie or worse! He was afraid that she would die, believing, that Sigtryggr had loved her! He couldn't protect her anymore...that was now Sigtryggr's job! And no matter how hard Sihtric tried to trust Sigtryggr...it didn't work! At some point he stood up and walked back to the great hall. Meanwhile: Sigtryggr and Twyla were sitting in their own great hall, when suddenly Wolland entered the great hall. Sigtryggr shot him a questioning look and Twyla just tilted her head...
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Sigtryggr:"Wolland, are you all right?...(*Wolland shook his head*)...what happened?"
Wolland:(*he took a deep breath*)"Our brothers don't get along with the Saxons you let live here, Sigtryggr!...(*Twyla's eyes widened*)...I know it was your idea to let the Saxons live here, even though you're a Dane, Twy, but it won't work in the long run!"
Twyla:"Yes, but there must be a peaceful solution, mustn't there?...(*Sigtryggr sighed*)...if we throw the Saxons out of Eoferwic, Wolland, Edward will see that as a declaration of war! Is that what you want?"
Wolland:(*he shook his head*)"Of course not, Lady, but our brothers will kill the Saxons, believe me!...(*Twyla stood up*)...the King will also see that as a declaration of war! So we can't avoid it!"
Sigtryggr:"The Saxons will continue to live here! I will talk to our brothers, Wolland!...(*Wolland nodded at him*)...Twy, my love, where are you going?"
Twyla:(*she turned her head*)"Outside to talk to your 'brothers', Sigtryggr!...(*Sigtryggr's and Wolland's eyes widened*)...I will not let anyone kill anyone here!"

~~~~~~
And with that being said, Twyla was gone! Sigtryggr and Wolland looked at each other for a brief moment, before Sigtryggr stood up and followed Twyla! The moment Twyla stepped outside, she wished she just had stayed inside...there was a huge chaos going on and there was blood everywhere! She looked around for the Saxons, but she couldn't find a single soul! Scared and worried she turned around, because she felt a hand on her right shoulder! Sigtryggr stood behind her, looking at the mess the Danes had made! He sighed and lowered his head...they were in big trouble! Meanwhile: a few Saxons reached Winchester and stormed into the throne room! Edward, Lady Ælswith and Lord Æthelhelm turned their heads, when they heard the doors open...
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Lady Ælswith:"Where did you come from and why do you look so humiliated?...(*one of the Saxons sighed*)...what happened to you?"
Saxon:(*he took a deep breath*)"We are from Eoferwic!...(*Edward raised an eyebrow*)...we fled from there, Lord King! We cannot live there...we dare not live there!"
Edward:"From Eoferwic you say?...(*the Saxon nodded*)...has Sigtryggr done something to you?"
Saxon:(*he shook his head*)"No, he didn't, but his men did!...(*Edward's eyes widened*)...some of us have died, others have fled to surrounding villages! We can take no more, Lord King...our strength is spent!"
Lady Ælswith:"And what did Lady Twyla do about it?!...(*the Saxon looked at her*)...she also has some power over her husband's men, doesn't she?"
Edward:(*he looked at his mother*)"Mother, I'm sure Twyla has nothing to do with it!...(*Lady Ælswith lowered her head*)...or does she have something to do with it?"
Saxon:"No, Lady Twyla has always treated us with respect and appreciation!...(*Edward nodded at him*)...just like her husband! Only his men are the problem, Lord King!"

~~~~~~
Edward sighed before he stood up and left the throne room! Lord Æthelhelm and Lady Ælswith looked at each other, before Lord Æthelhelm went after him! When Edward reached the stables, Lord Æthelhelm yelled his name! Edward turned his head and looked at him! Lord Æthelhelm shot him a questioning look, but Edward ignored him and mounted his horse! Slowly Lord Æthelhelm understood, what Edward was up to and also mounted his horse! Together they rode off to Rumcofa! When they reached it, Uhtred and Finan immediately walked towards them and waited for them to dismount their horses...
~~~~~~

Uhtred:"Lord King, Lord Æthelhelm, what brings you to Rumcofa?...(*Edward sighed*)...bad news?"
Edward:(*he nodded*)"Earlier, some Saxons who had fled from Eoferwic came to Winchester!...(*Uhtred's eyes widened*)...one of them told us that Sigtryggr's men are causing trouble and have made the Saxons flee! Some have died and others have fled to surrounding villages..."
Finan:"And what do you plan to do about it?...(*Edward shrugged his shoulders*)...when the situation there comes to a head and Sigtryggr's men go in search of the Saxons, a great disturbance breaks out throughout Wessex!"
Uhtred:(*he nodded*)"Finan is right!...(*Edward lowered his head*)...I would suggest my men and I ride to Eoferwic and talk to Sigtryggr! Then we will come to Winchester and report to you! Agreed?"

~~~~~~
Edward nodded and thanked Uhtred! After that, Lord Æthelhelm and himself rode back to Winchester! Uhtred and Finan walked back towards the great hall and entered the wooden building! Sihtric and Osferth shot them both a questioning look and waited for one of them to tell them, why Edward and Lord Æthelhelm were in Rumcofa! After a little while Uhtred and Finan sat down and explained everything to Sihtric, Osferth and Sigdeflæd...
~~~~~~

Finan:"There is unrest in Eoferwic, the Saxons have fled and some of them have died!...(*Sigdeflæd's eyes widened*)...Edward told us that it were Sigtryggr's men who caused the riots and made the Saxons flee!"
Sihtric:(*his voice was shaking*)"Is Twyla all right?...(*Finan shrugged his shoulders*)...Lord, we must ride to Eoferwic and see if Twyla is all right!"
Uhtred:"We will, Sihtric, I promise!...(*Sihtric lowered his head*)...only before that we have to make a plan in case something goes wrong!"
Osferth:(*he sighed*)"To protect Twyla, if something goes wrong, we have to fight Sigtryggr's men! There is nothing for me to think about!...(*Finan and Uhtred looked at him*)...this is my own plan and, if you ask me, the only right one!"
Sigdeflæd:"I really don't know anything about fighting, but I think Osferth is right!...(*Osferth smiled at her*)...if something were to happen to Twyla, none of you would ever forgive yourselves! I hope you can find a peaceful solution and I hope nothing happens to you!"
Sihtric:(*he lifted his head*)"I agree with Osferth and Sig!...(*Uhtred sighed*)...Lord, I know you never wanted to fight Sigtryggr or his men, but this is about a possible war between Danes and Saxons and you know which side you will end up fighting on!"

~~~~~~
Uhtred knew that Osferth, Sigdeflæd and Sihtric were right, but he really didn't want to fight Sigtryggr or his men! But no matter what he thought about, Osferth's proposal was the most plausible! After a while of thinking and hesitating, Uhtred, Finan, Sihtric and Osferth left the great hall and walked towards the stables! After everyone mounted their horses, they rode off towards Eoferwic! When they reached it, they saw that the town was almost empty! Everywhere was blood and Uhtred felt a depressed feeling...it was horrible! After the four of them rode into the town and dismounted their horses, they walked towards the great hall! Twyla and Sigtryggr were nowhere to be seen and Sihtric began to worry! It wasn't Twyla's way of just running away...
~~~~~~